Howdy!
In Justice Kagan’s dissent on the WV vs EPA decision last week, she wrote:
“Whatever else this Court may know about it, it doesn’t have a clue about how to address climate change. And let’s say the obvious: The stakes are high.
Yet the Court today prevents Congressionally authorized agency action to curb power plants’ carbon dioxide emissions. The Court appoints itself—instead of congress or the expert agency—the decision maker on climate policy. I cannot think of many things more frightening.”
There are many things we the people can do!! Starting TONIGHT with the MVP comment party and the first of the five Carbon Plan Public Hearings is taking place Monday in Durham!
July 7, MVP FERC Certificate Renewal Comment Party
6-7 pm, online
It’s time to once again tell FERC – MVP does NOT deserve a new pass to harm Appalachia. Join Appalachian Voices, the POWHR Coalition, Sierra Club and other partners for a ‘Comment Party’ to learn how to write and submit a comment, how to be an intervenor, and how to amplify the message that Mountain Valley Pipeline should not receive a 4 year extension for their certificate. Register here.
YOU HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE NC FOSSIL FREE!
July 11, Durham Carbon Plan Public Hearing
Rally at 5:30 pm, public hearing at 7 pm
Durham County Courthouse, Courtroom D7, 510 S Dillard St, Durham
We’ll have a gathering beginning at 5:30 pm in the courtyard plaza in front of the courthouse before the hearing begins. We’ll begin with some artwork and networking, then shortly after 6, we’ll have a few speakers, before people begin lining up to go inside the courthouse at 7.
Parking: A parking deck is located next to the courthouse on Dillard St. (3rd level connects via breezeway to the courtroom…or go to ground level to join the rally)
Public transit: The courthouse is about a 10-minute walk from Durham station, which is served by NC Rail, as well as regional and local buses. To find out how to travel from your location, use the Go-Triangle trip planner, putting in your starting point and the courthouse address as the destination.
Last week’s Supreme Court ruling limiting how the Environmental Protection Agency can regulate carbon emissions from power plants underscores the need for strong state and utility policies along with federal action to reduce greenhouse gases. Public pressure is urgently needed to make sure state governments and utility companies do the right thing.
Our state is at a critical juncture as we map our transition to a clean energy future. The North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) is holding public hearings across the state and online this summer as they develop a “Carbon Plan” to reduce carbon dioxide emissions 70% by 2030. Join us and partner organizations to demand a clean, affordable energy future!
At the end of May, Duke Energy released its draft carbon plan. Duke still wants to rely on polluting fossil fuels like fracked gas. NOOOO!!! But it is the NCUC that will craft the final carbon plan. We need to let them know what WE want that plan to look like!
Learn more Does Duke Energy’s Draft Carbon Plan Make the Grade? A Report Card, published in June by the People Power NC coalition.
Webinar on the report card and tips for speaking at a public hearing. People will probably have 3 minutes to speak. Share your personal experience with the Commission. You can also attend to listen and support the speakers and send written comments. More information here.
July 12: Wilmington Carbon Plan hearing
New Hanover County Courthouse, Courtroom 317, 316 Princess Street, Wilmington
Rally 6 pm, Public Hearing 7 pm
July 27: Asheville Carbon Plan hearing
Buncombe County Courthouse, Courtroom 1-A, 60 Court Plaza, Asheville
Rally 5:30 pm in Pack Square, Public Hearing 7 pm
Parking information for Downtown Asheville
July 28: Charlotte Carbon Plan hearing
Mecklenburg County Courthouse, Courtroom 5350, 832 E 4th Street, Charlotte
Rally and Press Conference, 4 pm at Marshall Park, 800 E 3rd Street
Marching through downtown Charlotte, community chalk mural, art builds and speakers.
Public Hearing 7 pm
August 23: Virtual Carbon Plan hearings
Aug. 23, 1:30 pm
Aug. 23, 6:30 pm
Participation in the virtual hearings is limited to 20 people per session, so register now! Details here.
July 9, An Interactive Workshop on the En-Roads Environmental Simulator
2-3 pm, online
Join Caroline Wofford (Resilience Corps NC 21-22) for a dive into climate change, policy, social justice, and imagining a better world. Using Climate Interactive’s En-Roads Simulator tool, we will work together to create and analyze a scenario that limits global temperature rise, and investigate the social, economic, and environmental consequences of our actions. This will be a highly interactive workshop, so come prepared to participate, and be ready to challenge your mental models and expand your understanding of climate systems! Register here.
July 19, NC Offshore Wind and Wildlife Solutions Summit
9:30 am – 4 pm, The Terraces at Sir Tyler, 1826 Sir Tyler Dr., Wilmington, NC
The transition to clean energy, including offshore wind, is essential to fight the harmful effects of our changing climate on local communities and wildlife habitats. Offshore wind is an important tool to mitigate the harmful effects of carbon pollution on North Carolina’s communities, natural systems and wildlife. It is critical that we move forward with important steps and safeguards to better understand, reduce and mitigate impacts of offshore wind projects on wildlife. More information and register here.
TAKE ACTION!
Demand the DOE reject new gas exports
Fossil fuel billionaires are fueling a disastrous greenwashing campaign to build several ‘low cost’ fast-tracked offshore LNG projects in the Gulf Coast.These floating LNG terminals would be disastrous for ecosystems and frontline communities in the Gulf. To be able to export gas, New Fortress Energy – the company leading the toxic project – needs the approval of the Department of Energy (DOE). We need to act now by submitting public comments by July 11 to demand that the Biden administration deliver on their commitment to environmental justice! Submit a comment here.
Don’t give Mountain Valley Pipeline another pass to pollute!
Tell FERC that Mountain Valley Pipeline does NOT deserve a four-year pass to continue hurting the environment, endangered species, public lands, waterways and Appalachian communities! Send your comments by July 14 here.
Tell President Biden to Declare a Climate Emergency here.
RECORDINGS AND ARTICLES
Recording of the excellent “What the Supreme Court’s recent decisions mean for climate action” webinar from last week here.
Be the Backlash by Bill McKibben here.
The US supreme court has declared war on the Earth’s future by Kate Aronoff here.
The US norms the supreme court targeted this term all came from the same era by Bill McKibben and Akaya Windwood here.
Check out Friends of the Earth International’s new Fossil futures built on a house of cards report released last week here.
Take care of yourselves and stay hydrated with this extreme heat! Thanks for taking action!
Peace and love for our beautiful Earth, Karen